Could you check to see if you have any codes? On your year, all you need is a bare, metal paper clip and the instructions. You can find picture, and links to procedure and code interpretation on this thread
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...902&highlight=
It also has "short and sweet" procedure further down in it.
There can be so many causes for your symptom. Knowing the code(*) if there are any makes all the difference.

Check your EGR Valve for Anyleak if the car is not keeping it'* own idle ! For Starting check your Starter, if it doe'* : Click Click Click, it'* cause you have not enough power from your battery but you solved the charge probleme, check your terminals on the Starter and maybe replace the Starter for your starting problem ! For Shifting check if your TCC is good !

hello... thanks for all the help so far, but the state of my bonny has seemed to regress since I last played with it. now with the new battery and alternator, it no longer starts or cranks. There is only a single "click", but nothing happens.

I tried checking for codes, but all I got were diagnostic "12"*.

So I am beginning to think this is an issue with the starter. For 'starters', I don't even know where the thing is found. Do I have to jack up my car to access this? I will try the lamp test as others have mentioned, but I don't know where to test the wires to the starter.

Also, I am unsure how to test if my engine is seized. I tried pulling on the serpentine belt, but it doesn't budge, and the bolt on the alternator is too big for any of my wrenches to turn. How else can I do this? Thanks!

A reasonable next step for troubleshooting would be to check things we already told you to check, which you have not reported a status on, if you have checked them.. Please check battery cables and ground connection for corrosion. You can hook up an engine starter or jumper cables from a working car to temporarily supply power to try and start the car. Corroded battery cables are quite common. You're having starting troubles. Test them.

i've cleaned off the battery cable leads as best as i could with baking soda and water. underneath the plastic housing, i haven't seen any corrosion. but i haven't specifically checked underneath the insulation on the cables, as this would mean i would have to cut into the insulation. should i do this and just tape it back up again?

ok just so you know what i'm talking about... do i have to get a knife and cut into the cable to determine if it'* corroded? people have said to peel back the insulation. i can peel back the housing, but not the insulation easily...[/img]

Yes, you will need to slit it to peel it back.

It'* typically just the Positive battery cable. Yes, you'll need to slit the insulation to check the cable past the connector. I understand you not wanting to do it, but you can go through a lot of frustrating time and money replacing other things, if what you need is a new battery cable. I went through a new batter, alternator, and starter, when all I needed was a cable.

If your cable is corroded along its length, there'* no amount of cleaning it that will fix it, it will actually require replacing the cable with a new one. I don't think the Bonneville'* positive cable is a simple length that a generic in the auto parts store will replace, I believe you'll need to actually get it from a dealer.

That is of course, if that'* your problem. It might be something else, but you should at least rule this out.

Hey, something crazy just happened. I slit the connector a bit, and it was fine, so i checked the cable terminals once more and then noticed it had a bit of crud on it, not completely covered, but not clean either. So i took a knife and started scraping it off.

I then started the car, and it started, but all of a sudden, I see my belt flopping around, stopped the car, and noticed there was oil sprayed everywhere. So then I just took the belt off entirely, tried starting again, and then it really didn't sound right, so I stopped the car, and I noticed a HUGE puddle of oil on my driveway.

So, I think something really major died in the engine. Does anyone have an idea what happened? In the picture, near the middle, but to the left a bit there is something with a lot of oil on it that I don't remember seeing before. What is that thing? Did it come from the engine?

So, it doesn't look like an easy fix now...

Check your oil filter! It is either loose, no o-ring, or it might even have double o-rings (one left from a previous filter)... believe me, experience speaking
BTW, the filter is right next to the belt. So if it "blows," it spews all over the belt; of course, causing it to slip and track and come off. If your hood was up, you probably have it all over the grill, bumper, and hood underside, w/ a pool in the driveway half the size of the car or more. What a mess!